Rams News

ST. LOUIS RAMS

August 26, 1998

St. Louis Rams quarterback Tony Banks has no more excuses.

Banks enters his third NFL season with 29 NFL starts under his belt. He is no longer a raw rookie learning on the fly.

"My rookie season is only three years ago, but it seems like so long ago," Banks said. "I feel like a wily vet. I have been here a long longer a lot of guys we have."

The Rams believe Banks, 25, is starting to act like a veteran, too.

Banks spent most of his off-season at Rams Park in Earth City, Mo., working on his game.

"I'm pleased with the progress Tony has made," Rams coach Dick Vermeil said. "I think he has matured a lot. I think he is understanding what kind of responsibility an NFL starting quarterback has to carry. If you stop and think, there are only 30 of them in the world. It's a lot of responsibility."

The 1998 season is a make-or-break year both professionally and financially for Banks, who is entering the final season of his three-year contract with the Rams.

"I feel like it is a make-or-break year every year for me," Banks said. "I have always had high expectations for myself. I think this is my best opportunity for success because we are in the same offense for two years."

Banks threw for 3,254 yards -- fourth-best in the NFC -- last season despite hamstring injuries to wide receivers Isaac Bruce and Eddie Kennison, the lack of a consistent running game and a porous offensive line.

Banks is the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL over the past two seasons. He has been sacked 91 times, eight more times than Mark Brunell of Jacksonville and Jeff Blake of Cincinnati.

"There isn't any one who follows Rams football who doesn't respect Tony Banks for his physical durability," quarterbacks coach Mike White said.

The Rams are trying to take some of the heat off Banks this year by installing the shotgun, going to more short passes and placing a greater emphasis on the tight end in the passing game.

Banks said he wasn't upset about the prospect of throwing the long ball a little less frequently.

"When I complete only 51 percent of my passes, I can't mind taking a few more high-percentage passes," Banks said. "It keeps defenses honest. They're not able to lay their ears back and depend on me being eight yards deep."

COACHING: Dick Vermeil, 9th year, 2nd with Rams (59-58).

REMEMBERING: 1997 record: 5-11 (5th in the NFC West).

PREDICTING: 1998 regular-season record: 7-9 (3rd in NFC West), miss playoffs for ninth straight year.

Cornerback Ryan McNeil and his agent, Brian Ransom, met with the media last week at the Harley Hotel located two blocks from Rams Park in Earth City, Mo.

A spiffy, nine-page report complete with charts and graphs detailing McNeil's accomplishments was passed out at the press conference.

The report included an executive summary that began: "A destined Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer, in five years, McNeil has become the league's most complete cornerback."

The report also included the following philosophical quote from McNeil: "How you treat the world when it is at your feet will be in direct proportion of how it treats you when it is on your shoulders."

Ransom said McNeil wants a contract worth $4 million to $5 million a year with half of the money guaranteed. Ransom used five years at $25 million with a $12.5 million signing bonus as an example. Ransom said there have been 26 new NFL contracts over the last four months that have exceeded $4 million a year.

"That's what the market is generating right now for players who are unrestricted free agents," Ransom said.

McNeil, 27, said he would sit out the 1998 season if he doesn't receive an acceptable contract offer from the Rams.

"I am prepared to do whatever I deem necessary, and if that includes sitting out the season, then that's definitely an option," McNeil said. "Is that what I want to do? No. I think once you've had a season like I've had, once you've got that appetite for success, you want to continue that."

As the Rams' franchise player, McNeil stands to earn $3.2 million -- the 1997 average of the top five players at his position -- this season.

Ransom said that the franchise player numbers are deflated.

"There is a renegotiating and restructuring of contracts that really makes that number less than what the top five players earn over the past year," Ransom said. "For example, nowhere on the list of the top five or top 10 NFL cornerbacks will you find the name Deion Sanders. Deion Sanders' signing bonus a few years ago was $17 million."

Ransom said his client offered to accept $3.2 million a year if the Rams would guarantee that he wouldn't be designated as the team's franchise player again next year, but the Rams said no.

--Dexter McCleon, the man who replaced McNeil at right cornerback, was taken to school on Saturday night.

The instructor: Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin.

The class: NFL Cornerback 101.

"They went after Dexter over there," Vermeil said after the Rams' 22-14 exhibition win over the Cowboys. "That's a pretty good introduction to the National Football League when you get on that guy with (Troy) Aikman throwing the ball."

The Cowboys bullied McCleon, a second-year cornerback out of Clemson who has been thrust into a starting role because of McNeil's holdout.

Irvin caught six passes for 100 yards. Most of those catches came against McCleon.

"It's smart on their part to come after a guy like me, a guy who hasn't played much, and that's just what they did," McCleon said. "I didn't expect to see Michael as much as I did tonight. That's not something they have really shown. The previous games, he hasn't lined up on one side so much. He's moved around more."

McCleon was called for a questionable pass interference penalty against Irvin on a throw into the corner of the end zone early in the second quarter.

"I didn't think it was pass interference, but he's Michael Irvin. He's going to get the call nine times out of 10 over somebody like me," McCleon said. "There is nothing I can do about it."

Irvin tormented McCleon both physically and verbally, but McCleon never backed down.

"That's the best competition he's going to face all year," Vermeil said. "I'm pleased that he showed the stamina and the willingness to not just to bail out and go hide. Let them throw 10- and 15-yard passes in front of him all day long. He remained very competitive."

McCleon had a team-leading 13 tackles in the game, but many of those came after the receiver he was guarding caught the ball.

"Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman are going to make a lot of guys struggle," Vermeil said. "He'll get better, he'll get better. Last year, they were running right by Ryan McNeil, right by him. He needs to play under fire and have a great receiver attack him and then line up and play again. That's how you become a good corner."

--Jeff Wilkins' 54-yard field goal against the Cowboys was the longest that he has ever kicked in an NFL game. He also had a 54-yarder in college for Youngstown State.

The kick sailed through the goalpost with plenty of room to spare.

"It would have been good from 64 yards," holder Rick Tuten said.

TOP THREE REASONS RAMS CAN WIN

No. 3 -- Defense is still stout enough to keep games close.

No. 2 -- Their schedule has only six games against opponents who had a winning record last season.

No. 1 -- Tony Banks blossoms during his third year in the NFL.

TOP THREE REASONS RAMS CAN LOSE

No. 3 -- Defense has been weakened by the retirement of coordinator Bud Carson, the defection of Bill Johnson and the holdout of Ryan McNeil.

No. 2 -- Offensive line is too young (John Flannery is the oldest lineman on the team at 29) to be effective yet.

No. 1 -- Banks doesn't have what it takes to be a starting quarterback.

BY THE NUMBERS: Offensive tackle Wayne Gandy has more NFL starts (57) than the rest of the projected starting line of Orlando Pace, Fred Miller, Mike Gruttadauria and Zach Wiegert combined.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "The first thing we are going to do is execute the simple things. I don't care if we stand up on the line of scrimmage and yell, `This is what we are going to do.' We are going to do certain things well. That was my approach in Philadelphia, and that's more-so my approach now." -- Rams coach Dick Vermeil, on his offensive philosophy for the 1998 season.

The Rams opted for youth over experience, choosing Kurt Warner as their third-string quarterback over Will Furrer. The Rams felt Warner, a refugee of both the Arena Football League and NFL Europe, had more of an upside than Furrer, a Jerry Rhome disciple who turned 30 this past winter.

Running back Raymond Priester and offensive lineman Glenn Rountree, both draft picks out of Clemson, also were among the Rams' roster cuts.

Priester was a fifth-round draft choice (129th player selected overall) that the Rams were trying to convert from a tailback back to an H-back/fullback. Vermeil said Priester was better suited for tailback, but the Rams' backfield is already overcrowded. Vermeil said Rountree, a sleeper pick in the sixth round, was too far away from being an NFL-caliber lineman.

The Rams also released running back James Stewart, wide receivers Donnell Baker, Donald Sellers and Russell Shaw, tackle Matt Reem, guard Fred Pollack, center David Kempfert, defensive tackle James Manley, linebackers Daryl Bush and Muadianvita Kazadi, cornerbacks Billy Austin, Willie Clark and Joe Rowe and safety Kadar Hamilton. Offensive tackle Roger Chanoine was placed on injured reserve due to a high ankle sprain.

PLAYER TO WATCH: LB London Fletcher -- The Division III national linebacker of the year last season at John Carroll has a real chance to stick with the Rams. Co-defensive coordinator John Bunting compares the 6-0, 241-pound Fletcher with undersized former Carolina linebacker Sam Mills.

DRAFT PICKS TO STICK:

Rd. 1/6, DE Grant Wistrom, Nebraska -- Will probably be limited to pass-rushing situations until he gets fully acclimated to the NFL. Might be a little light (267 pounds) to play against the mammoth tackles in the NFL.

Rd. 2/27, RB Robert Holcombe, Illinois -- Holcombe's ability to dodge defenders in traffic could earn him a starting job before the end of the season.

Rd. 3/65, DE Leonard Little, Tennessee -- A physical specimen who will be used as a pass-rushing specialist. Has a nasty side that makes him potentially a standout special teamer.

Rd. 4/96, WR Az-Zahir Hakim, San Diego State -- Has great after-the-catch elusiveness. His biggest impact as a rookie will be as a punt and kickoff returner.

Rd. 4/98, TE Roland Williams, Syracuse -- A punishing blocker whose hands are suspect. Was a standout wedge breaker on special teams in college.

Rd. 7/236, DE-OLB Jason Chorak, Washington -- A powerful run defender who has the balance and leverage to slide off blocks. Chorak will be a special teamer who might also see action as an outside rusher on passing downs.

VETERAN ADDITIONS:

DT Ray Agnew (UFA-N.Y. Giants) -- Adds experience to the Rams' young defensive line. Will probably rotate into the game on passing downs.

QB Steve Bono (T-Green Bay) -- A 13-year NFL veteran who has a 28-12 record as a starter. Is a good insurance policy if Banks should falter or get hurt.

C-G John Flannery (UFA-Dallas) -- Started at guard in Dallas, but his more natural position is center. Will be the starter at center until Mike Gruttadauria returns from arthroscopic knee surgery.

LB Eric Hill (UFA-Arizona) -- A proven run defender who has registered 90 or more tackles in all nine of his previous NFL seasons.

RB Greg Hill (UFA-Kansas City) -- Has great speed and can stretch a defense on the outside. Was criticized for not being a strong inside runner with the Chiefs.

P Rick Tuten (UFA-Seattle) -- A very consistent punter who has a stronger leg than Mike Horan.

WR Ricky Proehl (UFA-Chicago) -- A smart, possession-type receiver who has a knack for getting open. He will complement speedsters Isaac Bruce, Eddie Kennison and Az-Zahir Hakim nicely.

VETERAN LOSSES:

WR Keith Crawford (UFA-Atlanta) -- Will be missed on special teams, where he was the captain.

RB Craig "Ironhead" Heyward -- His days with the Rams appear over after he failed to show up for a team-mandated weigh-in. He was a solid blocker who was under-used as a ballcarrier.

LG John Jerak (Waived) -- A tough guy who started 16 games with one healthy elbow. The injury hurt his performance.

DT Bill Johnson (UFA-Philadelphia) -- Led the Rams' defensive tackles in sacks with four last season. He was solid, but not spectacular.

MLB Robert Jones (Waived, signed by Miami) -- Was the team's leading tackler last season, but many of those were soft tackles five or six yards down field.

QB Mark Rypien (UFA-Atlanta) -- A good backup who opted to sit out this season due to the illnesses of his wife and infant son, who passed away Aug. 22.

UNIT BY UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACK: Starter -- Tony Banks. Backups -- Steve Bono, Kurt Warner.

Banks' passer rating was a respectable 81.0 over the final nine games last season. However, his completion percentage of 51.7 percent was the third-worst in the NFL and he still fumbled too much. If Banks falters, the Rams have a proven performer in Bono. The 13-year NFL veteran has a 28-12 record as a starter.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- Jerald Moore. Backups -- Amp Lee, Robert Holcombe, Greg Hill, David Thompson, June Henley.

The starting job is Moore's to lose, and he could lose it with both Holcombe and Hill waiting in the wings. Moore's durability is a question mark. He has missed 12 games over the past two seasons due to injuries. Hill has the speed to turn the corner on the outside, while Holcombe has the ability to dodge defenders in traffic up the middle. Lee is a hybrid who is more of a threat as a receiver than as a running back. He led the Rams with 61 catches for 825 yards last season.

TIGHT END/H-BACKS: Starters -- Ernie Conwell and Derrick Harris. Backups -- Mitch Jacoby, Taji Armstrong, Roland Williams.

The Rams have added a set of plays to their passing game designed at getting the ball in Conwell's hands more often. The 6-1, 265-pound Conwell possesses punishing after-the-catch running ability. Harris is the only true H-back/fullback on the team. He's not a great runner or receiver, but the Rams don't ask their H-back to do much else other than block. Jacoby, who was working at both tight end and H-back, will likely miss the Rams' season opener against New Orleans after having surgery on his thumb.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Isaac Bruce, Eddie Kennison. Backups -- Ricky Proehl, J.T. Thomas, Az-Zahir Hakim, Malcolm Floyd, Tony Horne.

Bruce is healthy and poised for a return to the Pro Bowl. He caught 56 passes for 825 yards despite missing five games due to a hamstring injury last season. The addition of Proehl should take some of the pressure off Bruce. Proehl also should push Kennison, who suffered a horrendous sophomore slump -- he went from scoring 11 touchdowns in 1996 to scoring no touchdowns in 1997. Hakim could make an impact this season as return man, while Floyd and Horne have both been pleasant surprises to the Rams' coaching staff.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LT Orlando Pace, LG Fred Miller, C John Flannery, RG Zach Wiegert, RT Wayne Gandy. Backups -- G Ryan Tucker, C Mike Gruttadauria, G-T Ethan Brooks, C-G Tom Nutten, T Jeremy McKinney.

The Rams will lean to the left side with 6-7, 320-pound Pace at left tackle and 6-7, 315-pound Miller at left guard. Pace looks like a new man. He became a workout warrior during the off-season, dropping 15 pounds and adding upper body strength. Flannery will start at center until Gruttadauria returns from knee surgery. It's time for Wiegert and Wayne Gandy, who will be free agents after this season, to live up to their potential.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Starters -- LE Kevin Carter, LDT Joe Phillips, RDT D'Marco Farr, RDE Jay Williams. Backups -- RDE Grant Wistrom, LDE Bryan Robinson, LDT Ray Agnew, RDT Jeff Zgonina.

The Rams lost half their front four on defense after Leslie O'Neal was waived and Bill Johnson sought greener pastures with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Rams drafted Wistrom to fill O'Neal's spot, but he will share playing time with Williams until he's ready to be an every-down player. The Rams will rotate four players -- Farr, Zgonina, Phillips and Agnew -- at their two defensive tackle slots. The Rams expect Carter, who was second on the team in sacks with 7.5 last season, to emerge as a premier pass-rusher this season.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- RLB Roman Phifer, MLB Eric Hill, LLB Mike Jones. Backups -- OLB Charlie Clemons, OLB Leonard Little, OLB Jason Chorek, MLB Lorenzo Styles, MLB London Fletcher.

This group needs to be more consistent. The Rams have consistently given up too many big plays over the middle, especially to opposing tight ends. Jones was the Rams' steadiest linebacker last season. He also was their best coverage guy. Hill plugs a big hole in their run defense. Phifer, who is the final year of his four-year contract, still has above-average speed. He wasn't allowed to roam as much last season and his tackle total suffered as a result.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- LCB Todd Lyght, RCB Ryan McNeil, SS Toby Wright, FS Keith Lyle. Backups -- LCB Taje Allen, RCB Dexter McCleon, RCB Tony Stargell, SS Billy Jenkins, Jr., FS Gerald McBurrows, FS-SS Mike Scurlock.

If McNeil continues to hold out, McCleon will be the starter at right corner. McCleon has been burned often in the preseason, but the Rams are confident he will come around. Lyght remains one of the top corners in the NFL. He got burned more often last year, but he also saw more passes thrown his way and got less free safety support than McNeil. Wright, a real head hunter, is trying to come back from reconstructive knee surgery. If Wright can't go, Jenkins proved he can play strong safety with 17 tackles against the Chicago Bears last season. Lyle is solid and steady. He has 17 interceptions over the past two seasons.

SPECIAL TEAMS: P -- Rick Tuten. K -- Jeff Wilkins. KR -- David Thompson, Tony Horne, Az-Zahir Hakim. PR -- Eddie Kennison, Hakim.

After being Mr. Automatic early, kicker Jeff Wilkins had a stretch where he missed nine of 16 field-goal attempts late last season. The Rams were so confident that Wilkins would regain his old form that they didn't even bring another kicker into training camp. Veteran punter Rick Tuten is known for his consistency. Thompson set a Rams rookie record for kickoff returns last season. Kennison will continue to return punts, even though his return average was cut in half from 14.6 yards in 1996 to 7.3 yards in 1997.

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